You don't see me . . .
because you believe I am different from you
My gifts are many . . .
some crucial to your survival
but your terror that I might share your emotions
has hardened your heart and blinded your eyes
to the Love and Wisdom in my gaze.
Most of the creatures with whom we share this planet have an experience of life which is grounded in their emotional response to that life. Not a lot of time and energy is devoted to analyzing what we humans label "the truth."
Rather than imbue us with superior access to knowledge, it seems quite often the very idea that there is something called "the truth" separates us from our sense of knowing.
Humans love to assert the many attributes they consider uniquely human. It reminds me of a nervous mantra meant to ward off the realization that we might not be all that different from the other animals. But aside from this obsession with being "special" and therefore somehow entitled to special treatment, what I do find uniquely human is the concept of "the truth."
In fact, one of the first "truths" asserted was that others do not feel "like we do." What others? Oh, that has varied over the centuries. Sometimes "other" has denoted humans with different skin color. Other times it has been used to demonize those who hold different religious beliefs. Often the "other" which was believed to think and feel differently than the people in charge of determining "the truth" had different genitalia.
While this sort of discrimination has lost favor in recent history, human culture still supports the idea that other animals don't feel the same emotions we do.
Whatever the criteria over the years, one thing has remained constant: once "the truth" about differences is established, it is used like a weapon to deny resources, liberty, dignity and even life to the "others" who "are not like us."
The program of Alcoholics Anonymous admonishes us to look for similarities rather than differences. This spiritual practice opens doors to commonality which create healing and community in the face of profound differences such as race, gender and socioeconomic status.
I find the same approach to be a huge help in creating connection with other life forms. If I look past the differences in hair follicles and noses, if I refuse to be distracted by the sounds and smells, if I choose to focus on the energy in a beating heart and the emotion contained in a breath, I move past "the truth" and discover knowing.
I love to listen for the subtext of our culture. Not just the US culture. Not just western culture. But the planetary culture which dominates today. While variations still exist, they are fast disappearing as every man, woman and child on earth acquires access to global media via cell phones and other personal electronic devices. Even people without indoor plumbing or electricity have access to social media today. That has had the benefit of creating more access to democratic process as the Arab Spring and Occupy movement so aptly illustrate.
As our human family moves into 2012, we face many challenges. If we are as smart as we like to think we are, we will pursue solutions to those challenges which will require us to change. One vital change must be a shift from an independent and competitive approach to life, to one which embraces interdependence and cooperation.
Social media is helping us to bridge our differences as people. We are creating more connection and cooperation than ever before. Some animals are also learning to use technology to communicate with humans. Great apes such as bonobos, chimpanzees and gorillas are defying "the truth" about animals as they reveal emotions and perceptions humans previously "knew" to be "uniquely human."
Will the human family eventually learn to live cooperatively with the other animals we share this planet with? One key to change will necessarily involve a shift in our attitude away from that of wanting to "rescue" and "help." This patronizing stance perpetuates dominance and separation.
If we open our hearts to connection, we may discover our own salvation in the diversity we have heretofore ignored. In other words, we might learn something valuable about our own survival if we open to sharing connection with other life forms.
I love animals. I am grateful for my many animal guides and friends. If not for certain key creatures, I might never have found the will to live - to go on - to find the best parts of myself. I learned so much about love, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, letting go, courage and nurturing from my animal family. I still do.
It is my prayer for the coming year, that my human family will surrender their claim to "the truth" and find their knowing in the wise gaze of our animal families.
I use a very successful combination of education and role playing to increase connection and compassion. Email me or text 415.407.2932 to learn more.
Veronica Monet, ACS, CAM